Cajun Skillet Surprise Recipes

CAJUN SAUSAGE AND RICE SKILLET

Steps:

• Warm butter or oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add sliced sausage and cook 8-10 minutes, or until browned and caramelized to your desired preference. Remove sausage from pan and set aside on a large clean plate/bowl.
• Add diced bell peppers to the same skillet and cook 4-5 minutes, or until crisp-tender. (Cook 1-2 minutes longer if you don't want any bite at all.)
• Add sliced green onions, garlic, and spinach to the peppers. Cook 1-2 minutes longer on medium heat, until spinach is wilted and the garlic is fragrant. Remove vegetables and set aside.
• Add tomato paste, broth, 1/2 tsp. Cajun seasoning and the salt to the pan and cook, whisking or stirring until the mixture is smooth. Cook the mixture 3-4 minutes, or until slightly thickened and smooth. Taste and add additional salt or Cajun seasoning, to taste. (You want it to be a bit strong-tasting, since the rice and veggies will dilute the flavor a bit.)
• Return cooked sausage and vegetables to the pan and add the cooked rice. Stir to coat with the sauce. Cook just 1-2 minutes longer to encourage the rice to absorb some of the liquid and allow the flavors to meld.
• Taste and add salt or pepper, to your liking. Garnish with cilantro or parsley and serve warm.

CAJUN CABBAGE SKILLET

Steps:

• Heat a large cast-iron skillet or high-sided saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the oil and swirl the pan to coat evenly. Add the sausage slices in a single layer and cook until browned on the first side, about 2 minutes. Flip and cook until browned on the second side, about 2 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the sausage slices to a bowl and set aside.
• Add the onion, a splash of water and large pinch salt to the pan and cook over medium-high heat, using a wooden spoon or heatproof rubber spatula to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is lightly browned in spots and starting to get tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the cabbage, crushed red pepper and another pinch salt and cook until cabbage is crisp-tender, 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. If the pan seems dry at any point, stir in another splash of water.
• Add the garlic and cider vinegar and cook until the vinegar is mostly evaporated, about 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in the butter until melted, then return the sausage to the pan along with the apple and cook until the apple slices are just tender, 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Sprinkle with the scallion and serve immediately with hot sauce alongside.

SPICY CAJUN SAUSAGE AND RICE SKILLET

Steps:

• In a large nonstick skillet, cook and crumble sausage with onion and pepper over medium-high heat until no longer pink, 5-7 minutes., Stir in tomatoes, broth, Cajun seasoning, pepper and contents of rice bags; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, 8-10 minutes. If desired, serve with hot sauce.

CAJUN SKILLET SURPRISE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Saute onion, celery, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, zucchini, and green chiles until the onion is tender. Remove vegetables from skillet, and set aside.
• Melt the butter in the same skillet on medium heat, being careful not to burn. Stir in flour until combined, then stir in salt and pepper. Cook flour mixture until brown, 3 to 5 minutes; stir continuously. DO NOT ALLOW THIS MIXTURE TO BURN.
• Stir in onion soup mix and water. Increase heat to medium high. Season with red cayenne pepper and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir in vegetables. If gravy is too thick, stir in warm water. Reduce heat to low.
• Heat a separate large heavy skillet over medium high heat. Saute chicken, sausage and shrimp until chicken is no longer pink, and juices run clear. Stir into vegetable mixture. Simmer for 35 minutes.